New offshore wind farm for Blyth

EDF Energy Renewables is set to build a new offshore wind farm off the coast of Blyth which will supply enough low carbon energy to power 33,000 homes.

The power generated by the wind farm will be supplied to an electricity substation at Blyth, which will be built by Balfour Beatty, for transmission to the National Grid.

Construction work for the project has begun offshore, with onshore work beginning in 2017 to install five turbines of 41.5MW in capacity.

At its peak, the construction project will employ around 200 workers.

Owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles, the Blyth Offshore wind project will be built by EDF Energy Renewables as part of a shared joint venture between the two firms.

Using the latest generation of offshore wind turbines manufactured and installed by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, and will be the first project to put to use 66Kv cable technology.

A new form of concrete gravity base foundations will also be used, described as the first of their kind to be built in the world, implemented by a new installation method, designed and built by Royal BAM Group in the Neptune dry dock on the Tyne.

Matthieu Hue, EDF Energy Renewables CEO, said: “As a company, we already have a strong presence in the North East, in low carbon electricity generation and serving customers including our first offshore wind farm at Teesside so we’re pleased to be able to add another project to our portfolio in the region.

“We are delighted that the gravity based foundations will be made in Newcastle. The Port of Blyth will be used for operations and maintenance and the blades for the turbines will be made on the Isle of Wight."